Some Kentucky cities ending paid leave for workers during mandatory COVID-19 quarantines
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Updated: 7:44 PM EDT Jul 29, 2021
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Updated: 7:44 PM EDT Jul 29, 2021
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WLKY’S ANNABEL THORPE LOOKS AT WHY THESE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING. ANBEL:NA ON THURSDAY, I SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR OF TAYLORSVILLE. AND SINCE JUNE, CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE HAD TO USE THEIR SICKAY DS TO COVER IF THEY HAVE TO QUARANTINE FOR COVID REASONS. AND THIS CITY, ISN’T THE ONLY ONE. INAY TLORSVILLE, AROUND CITY FIVE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN FORCED TO TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF TO QUARANTINE DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE CITY PAID EACH PERSOIN FULL DURING THEIR TIME AWAY. >> WEAD H EMPLOYEES GET COVID. THAT CAME OUT OF OUR CARES FUND. ANNABEL: THE CITY ALLOTTED IT’S NEARLY $92,000 IN CARES TAC MONEY WHICH COVERED QUARANTINE , PAY FOR A WHILE. BUT NOW THERE’S NO MORE RECAS MONEY TO PAY EMPLOYEES NEEDING COVID-RELATED SICK TIME. >> WE ARE NO LONGER GETTING FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AT THIS PERIOD IN TIME, WE HAVE GONE BACK TO THE POLICY OF THEM USING THEIR OWN SICK TIME. ANNABEL: WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR RELAXED MOST COVID RESTRICTIONS IN THAT’S WHEN TAYLORSVILLE JUNE, CHANGED THEIR COVID PAY POLICY TOO. >> WHEN WE GET MORE FUNDING, WE WILL LOOK BACK AT THAT ISSUE AGAIN. ANNABEL: LOUISVILLE RECENTLY MADE A SIMILAR CHANGE. THE MAYOR’S OFFICE SAYS AS OF JULY 5, THE CITY STOPPED PAYING FOR COVID-19 SICK TIME. EMPLOYEES NOW USE THEIR OWN ACCRUED TIME. BUT IN ST. MATTHEW TS,HIS ISN’T THE CASE. EMPLOYEES ARE PAID DURING QUARANTINE WITH CITY MONEY. >> IT IS JUST ABSORBED THROUGH THE CUSHIONE W PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES. ANNABEL: NOT ALL CITIES HAVE THIS FINANCIAL CUSHION. SO THOSE EMPLOYEES FACE ETH CHOICE OF USING LIMITED SICK TIME OR POSSIBLY IGNORING SYMPTOMS AND GOING TO WORK. >> ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO USE THEIR SICK TI,ME BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THE POTENTIAL RISK TO GIVING ALL THEIR OTR HEWOCORKERS. ANNABEL: A RISK CITY’S HOPE EMPLOYEES WILL TAKE TO HEA